Azerbaijan arrests ex-minister of Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia: Azerbaijan has detained a former minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh government, Ruben Vardanyan, while he was attempting to cross the border into Armenia, according to foreign media reports.

Vardanyan previously served as the Minister of State of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic before his dismissal in February 2023.

He had gained prominence in the region, known as Artsakh to many Armenians, and was a well-known figure.

Vardanyan had invested in Russia before relocating to the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in 2022, where he took on the role of minister of state.

His arrest has raised concerns, especially among Armenians, as tensions continue in the region.

His wife, Veronika Zonaband, confirmed his arrest in a statement, noting that he was apprehended by Azerbaijani authorities at the border while thousands of Armenians were fleeing the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with the international media just before his arrest, Ruben Vardanyan expressed his awareness of being a potential target for Azerbaijani forces in the conflict.

He acknowledged the risks, saying, "This is life. If you are ready to die for your country, that's fine. It's bad, but if you're doing something important, you have to be prepared. I knew the story could end badly, and I was prepared for it from day one."

As Azerbaijani forces have advanced into various areas, more than 40 percent of Karabakh's population has been displaced within a short period of 72 hours.

Azerbaijani troops recently captured the town of Martakurt, marking the first major settlement to fall since the offensive began.

It appeared that most of the population had evacuated before the arrival of Azerbaijani soldiers.

Ruben Vardanyan has accused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of launching an "ethnic cleansing" campaign against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and has called for sanctions against Azerbaijan in response to the ongoing conflict.